Cape Town - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on Friday announced Tsholofelo Lejaka as the new chief executive of Boxing South Africa (BSA) and detailed his department's plan to restore boxing back to its former glory.
During his announcement in Pretoria, Mbalula exclaimed proudly: “A lot has been done and the wheels are turning in the right direction. “I can vouch with my cows at home, I am giving you the best,” said Mbalula of Lejaka's appointment.
I affirm the resilience of Boxing in S.A, mindful of our challenges, undeterred because we have plans to overcome. pic.twitter.com/2yhQqEXcom
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 20, 2016
Following the announcement, Lejaka joined Mbalula, making his maiden address to the media. “I am going to have to be the one in the thick of things,” said Lejaka, joking that in a few years time he may have collected some bruises along the way.
Lejaka said BSA, along with the department, had a defined plan of action to revive the fortunes of boxing. “I am sure we can turn this thing around,” said Lejaka.
Centring the sport around the boxer, raising the boxer's status in the sporting world, ensuring transparency in how much a promoter pocketed, and enshrining the rule book were some of the promises Lejaka made.
I present to you the CEO of boxing South Africa ,Young ,Energetic & super focused. pic.twitter.com/GmPoOG2nPg
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 20, 2016
Lejaka has been groomed for the position, having served as chief director of corporate services within the sports department. He is also well-acquainted with working with Mbalula, as he served as chief of staff when the Mbalula was Deputy Minister of Police. The now-filled position has remained vacant since the resignation of Loyiso Mtya in 2015.
Prior to Mtya's tenure, there was Moffat Qithi, who was suspended for gross dishonesty and fraud after he omitted to disclose a criminal conviction during the job interview.
R4,5 Million has been set aside the establishment and development of these clubs #boxingIsBack pic.twitter.com/twLFPQw4L0
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 20, 2016
Mbalula said the long wait to fill the vacancy was as a result of following due processes such as consulting with National Treasury and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. If Lejaka succeeds in his role - and actually finishes a term - he will be the first Boxing SA chief executive to have done so.
The struggles within BSA was mirrored in the sport itself, now a far cry from its heyday in decades gone by. In this regard, Mbalula declared confidently that boxing was indeed back. “We have been hard at work to revive and turn the fortunes of the sport of boxing in our country,” he said.
R10 million has been set aside to develop the Open and Junior boxing #boxingIsBack pic.twitter.com/NtSq3hy8HE
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 20, 2016
Mbalula detailed some of the plans to get boxing back on track. In addition to bringing boxing back to television screens - with 1.3 million households having been reached since broadcasts resumed - new leagues and initiatives were announced, as well as additional funding.
R11 million has been allocated to BSA for this financial year, R10 million to the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation for open and junior boxing development, and R4.5 million for the development of 90 new clubs.
Over 1,3 Million households have been reached by our Boxing Broadcast #boxingIsBack pic.twitter.com/oW9mqJN0QF
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 20, 2016
Utilising their allocation, SANABO will host an inter-provincial Open Boxing League which will kick off in August, starting with fortnightly fights between Gauteng and Eastern Cape boxers.
“This league will go a long way to unearthing latent talent,” said Mbalula. An innovative way to develop boxers, Operation Victory Lap, would also roll out shortly, with boxers joining military bases to receive training. Mbalula added that both BSA and the department were “investing significantly” in women's boxing, having put on an all-female bill in KwaZulu-Natal.
On the department's #BoxingisBack, Mbalula said he was confident that “we can and we will get this right”. “We look at the recent past and our effort with pride and look to the future of boxing in our country with confidence in the commitment that it will return to its glory days,” he said.
African News Agency